Mr. Darcy's Diary

November

Today we returned to Pemberley, after our honeymoon by the lakes. Elizabeth looked well and happy. I watched her as the carriage rolled up the drive, seeing in her face her delight at her new home.

The carriage pulled up outside the door. We went in.

Mrs Reynolds had assembled the staff, and they welcomed us. Mrs Reynolds, I know, is delighted to see a mistress at Pemberley again.

We went up to our rooms. I went into her suite with Elizabeth. It was the only set of rooms she wanted altered, and it had been decorated just as she wished.

‘Do you like it?’ I asked.

She looked round her appreciatively. ‘It is perfect.’

I went over to her and kissed her.

‘Do you like it?’ she asked, looking round at the room again.

‘It does not matter if I like it or not.’

‘I think it does,’ she teased me. ‘After all, you will be a frequent visitor.’

I smiled and kissed her again.

It was some hours later when we went downstairs.

‘Are you sure you do not want any of the other rooms redecorated?’ I asked her, as we entered the dining-parlour.

‘No, I like them just the way they are. They remind me of my first visit to Pemberley. ’ She walked over to the window and looked out. ‘It is a beautiful prospect.’

I agreed. The wooded hill was lovely, and the river sparkled as it wound its way through the valley. I love every tree and every blade of grass, and it warms me to know that she loves it, too.

‘What did you think when you first saw it?’ I asked her.

She smiled mischievously. ‘That I might have been the mistress of all this, if I had accepted you!’

‘And did you regret it?’

‘For a minute – until I remembered that I would not have been allowed to welcome my aunt and uncle here.’

‘I cannot believe I was ever so proud. If not for your aunt and uncle, we might never have met again. We will welcome them any time you wish to do so.’

I put my arms round her.

‘We must have them to stay soon. I have promised my aunt she can ride round the park in a phaeton and a pair of ponies. ’ She turned in the circle of my arms and stroked my cheek. ‘But we will not invite them just yet.’

We have been at Pemberley for a week, and Elizabeth and Georgiana are getting on together as well as I could have hoped. Georgiana is starting to lose some of her shyness through her nearness to Elizabeth, and although she is not as playful as Elizabeth, she has ventured to tease me on one or two occasions.

I finally feel I can be a brother to Georgiana again, and not a father and mother. She is growing up now, and with Elizabeth to guide me, I no longer worry that I do not understand young ladies. If I am ever in doubt, I have only to ask Elizabeth.

Life is a great deal easier for Georgiana, too, because she has a confidante as well as a sister in Elizabeth.

Elizabeth received a letter from Lydia this morning, asking for help with some bills. I came upon her by chance as she was reading it in her bedroom. She looked up guiltily as I walked in.

‘Secrets?’ I asked.

She looked rueful.

‘It is from Lydia. She is so extravagant that she has exceeded her income again. She writes to me that it must be nice to be so rich, and she asks for my help.’

‘You will not give it to her?’ I saw her face. ‘You will.’

‘She is my sister, after all,’ she said.

‘Let her ask Jane.’

‘She has already asked Jane,’ said Elizabeth, her playfulness returning. ‘I feel she means to ask us each in turn.’

‘You should say no. Then she will learn to manage.’

‘Not Lydia! She will run up bills until the shopkeepers demand payment, and then she and Wickham will change lodgings and start all over again. Think of it this way, I am not helping Lydia, I am helping the shopkeepers she is cheating.’

With this she knew I would agree.

‘I never cease to wonder how it is that you and Jane turned out so well, when your other sisters turned out so ill,’ I said, going over to her and kissing her on the cheek.

‘Kitty is not so bad,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I was thinking of having her to stay with us. After our Christmas party next month, I am going to invite her to stay on. Some superior company will do much to influence her for the better.’

‘If you must, you must. I would rather have you to myself.’

‘She will not be indoors all the time. She will go for long walks with Georgiana,’ said Elizabeth.

‘Or long carriage rides,’ I said, kissing her on the lips.

‘Or picnics,’ said Elizabeth, kissing me in return.

‘My love, I had better lock the door.’